the cherished SELF
the art of living life to your fullest
Québec City - Le Monastère des Augustines
Sept 27-30,2026
limited to 12 participants
You are good at taking care of things.
Your work. Your people. Your responsibilities. You do it well, and often — if we're being honest — at your own expense.
Somewhere between the relentless doing and the dutiful showing up, you lost the thread back to yourself. Not all at once. Quietly. The way a season changes before you notice it has.
This is not a spa weekend. It's not a seminar. It's not a list of techniques for managing your energy better. And it's not one more thing you do for everyone else while quietly putting yourself last — because that's the pattern we're here to interrupt.
This is 3.5 days of coming back — because the half day matters.
Back to the woman you've been quietly setting aside. Back to the questions you haven't let yourself ask. Back to the particular, irreplaceable pleasure of simply being with yourself — without the to-do list, without the role, without the performance.
The sanctuary you've been searching for? It was never a place.
Two of the twelve places are already taken. The room is small on purpose.
WHY I CREATED THIS retreat
For the longest time, the hardest part of my life wasn't the workload. It was learning to be comfortable with myself.
I was constantly in search of a sanctuary — a place where I could feel peace, acceptance, and safety. I tried everything: hitting the snooze button, planning weekends away, ending the week with an extra glass of wine, spa days until my toes were wrinkly.
Nothing worked. Within days, I was back to being my exhausted, driven, overwhelmed self, shackled by the tyranny of my to-do list.
When my clients began showing up with the same symptoms — the same bone-tired look behind competent eyes — I knew we needed something more than another productivity hack. We needed a way to move from surviving to actually, genuinely thriving.
That's how I found Le Monastère des Augustines: a 400-year-old healing sanctuary tucked into the stone walls of Old Quebec. In its quiet corridors and naturopathic gardens, something in me exhaled. I slowed down enough to hear myself think. And then to hear myself — just be.
I let go of perfectionism. I stopped saying yes at my own expense. I found a way to accept myself — foibles and all — with something resembling grace.
What I discovered there wasn't a method or a mindset. It was a recognition: the sanctuary I was seeking had been inside me all along. I had just never stopped long enough to find it.
I built this retreat so you don't have to wait as long as I did.
— Tania
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
THIS IS FOR YOU IF…
Autumn is arriving — that particular quality of light that makes you want to slow down, turn inward, reassess. And somewhere in you, something is stirring.
Maybe you booked a massage last month and spent the whole hour composing emails in your head. Maybe your doctor or your therapist told you to rest, and you signed up for a productivity course instead. Maybe the season of your life is shifting — a career change, a relationship evolving, children grown and gone — and you're not quite sure who you are in this new chapter. Maybe you're doing fine, by every external measure, and something still feels like it's missing.
You are not lost. You are in transition. And transition asks something of us: to pause, to reflect, to ask better questions.
Come if you're ready to ask them.
2 of 12 places are already taken.
What you will explore
This is not a curriculum. It's an inquiry — the kind I lead, not teach: experiential, intimate, built from story and reflection and the rare gift of unhurried time. Here are the questions we'll live into, together:
Who am I, right now?
You are not who you were five years ago. I want to meet the woman who's emerging — not as a project to fix, but as someone worth getting to know.
What have I been carrying that isn't mine?
The expectations, the “shoulds,” the relentless pressure to be enough. We'll name what you've been hauling around, and you'll decide — deliberately, finally — what's actually yours to keep.
Where is the joy I forgot to schedule?
Somewhere between responsible and accomplished, play got deprioritized. I'll bring it back — in the cobblestone streets of Old Quebec, in the gardens, in the company of women who get it.
What does it feel like to be at peace with myself?
This isn't a concept I'll explain to you. It's something I'll help you practice — in movement, in reflection, in stillness, in moments of unexpected delight.
What does my sanctuary actually look like?
Not the Pinterest version. Yours. We'll build a blueprint of the practices, rituals, and rhythms that actually feel like you — one you'll take home and use.
What does it mean to belong to a community of women who see you?
There is nothing like being surrounded by women who share your questions and your season. The conversations that begin here tend not to end here.
What AWAITS YOU ON OUR RETREAT
Before You Arrive
A beautifully crafted workbook arrives in your inbox — readings, videos, and journaling prompts designed to begin the work before we gather. Then, a group coaching call lets you meet the other women. Not as names on a list — as the women you'll be sitting across from in a few weeks. By the time you arrive in Quebec City, you're not walking into a room of strangers. You're walking toward people you already know a little, which means you skip the small talk and go straight to what actually matters.
Your Arrival Day — September 27
Most retreats expect you to arrive ready. This one doesn't.
September 27th is yours. A gentle video guide walks you through the day — not an agenda, but an invitation: to put the phone down, to let go of what you left managing at home, and to turn your attention inward, toward who you might become acquainted with over these next few days.
This isn't unstructured time. It's intentional time — designed so you arrive at the real work not exhausted, but open. The depth of what unfolds in the days ahead depends on it.
The first night is for resting, not performing. Think of it as building your nest. Wander into town for a casual dinner with the women you've already started to know, take in a little sightseeing — or, if you'd rather, sink into the luxury of a massage, a long walk, or an unapologetic afternoon nap. Nobody's watching the clock.
During the Retreat — September 28–30
Three full days of immersive work inside one of North America's most extraordinary wellness sanctuaries. Each day holds its own arc: mornings that open slowly, afternoons that venture out or go deeper, evenings that settle into stillness or laughter or both.
Expect: over 18 hours of experiential workshops (exploratory exercises, partner reflection, guided walks, creative play), farm-to-table meals at Le Vivoir, daily movement and meditation, one special dinner in a traditional Québécois restaurant, and — because Tania cannot help herself — gifts and surprises.
We will conclude together at 5:00 PM on September 30th. We strongly recommend staying one more night — the close of something meaningful deserves its own exhale, and the city will still be there, waiting.
What you will not find: a packed agenda, mandatory energy, or anyone telling you what you should want.
After You Return
Finding the desire to change is rarely the hard part. The hard part is finding the stamina to actually live it once you're back in the thick of your real life — the inbox, the calendar, the people who need you. A group coaching call after we part is built for exactly that: not another dose of inspiration, but real support for integrating what shifted here into the life you're going home to. Because the point was never the 3.5 days — it was what they make possible in all the days after.
Tania Carriere
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
tania carriere
epiphany designer
Women leave my rooms having said things out loud they've never said to anyone — and somehow, it feels completely safe. That's the thing I've built my life around.
With over 25 years of designing transformational experiences for leaders and seekers across 77 countries, I blend a background in psychology, coaching, change management, and theatre into something that doesn't quite have a category. My work has been featured in Elle, Condé Nast Traveller, Psychologies Magazine, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. I've given a TEDx talk. I direct theatre. My suitcase is always half-packed.
What I bring to this room: rigour and warmth, intellectual depth and genuine delight, and the kind of questions that open something in you even when you weren't expecting it.
the magic of an experiential retreat
Welcome to a retreat where Le Monastère and Quebec City become our living classroom. Here, epiphanies emerge from a curated journey that engages your physical, creative, emotional, and spiritual selves. Join us for a transformative experience designed to unlock self-discovery and joy through:
Gastronomy
Imagine an EATING class that transcends the traditional cooking experience. At Le Vivoir, you'll savor farm-to-table delights with mindful eating practices, turning each meal into a moment of joy and reflection.
Wellness Activities
Revitalize with daily wellness movement classes, guided meditation walks, and self-guided reflections. Discover healing and creativity while exploring the historic beauty of Le Monastère and the surrounding city.
Awe-Inspiring Culture and History
Step into a legacy of rest, renewal, and healing. Les Augustines, pioneers of the first hospital north of Mexico, crafted a foundation of healthcare in Quebec. Experience their daring spirit and continued commitment to service as you stay amidst their legendary naturopathic gardens and strategic vision.
Old World Delight
Quebec City will whisk you away to the charm of the Old World. Wander its cobblestone streets and narrow pathways, leaving behind the glare of modern screens. Immerse yourself in breathtaking views and timeless beauty.
Join us for a journey that promises to enlighten and rejuvenate. Reserve your spot now and step into a world of discovery and wonder.
where we will RETREAT
Le Monastère des Augustines sits within the historic walls of Old Quebec — itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site — in buildings that have been a place of healing since 1639. The Augustinian Sisters, who founded the first hospital north of Mexico, built something here that transcends architecture: a spirit of care, of contemplation, of radical hospitality.
When I first came to that monastery, I wasn't even aware of how tired I was. It wasn't until the second morning, when the soft light came through the edge of the shutters and laid a simple reflection across the simply decorated room, that I felt it — the sense of being held, like a cocoon. There's a history of women in these walls. Strong women, dedicated to science and to healing, unafraid to sit in the quiet. The doors are crooked on their hinges. The floors creak as I step quietly down the hall, cradling my morning coffee. And I feel the conviction they had.
Respectfully restored, the Monastère blends 17th-century heritage with contemporary design. It operates sustainably and welcomes people of all cultures and beliefs. Its naturopathic gardens, cloistered walkways, and farm-to-table restaurant make it, quite simply, one of the most extraordinary places on this continent to slow down.
I will not bring you somewhere ordinary for work this important.
your investment
A week at a luxury spa resort will run you more than this — and you'll come home rested. This isn't that. This is 3.5 days designed to change the way you carry the other 361 days of your year.
Laughter and rejuvenation: priceless
Your retreat includes
Gourmet meals and plentiful snacks throughout ·
Pre-retreat workbook and group coaching call ·
18+ hours of experiential workshops ·
Post-retreat coaching call and integration support ·
On-site gifts and surprises ·
Connection in a curated community of 12
ACCOMMODATION BOOKING
Please note: Accommodation is booked separately, directly with Le Monastère. We recommend arriving the evening of September 26th and departing September 30th (4 nights), though a minimum of 3 nights (arriving Sept 27, departing Sept 30) works if you must. Staying the night of the 29th gives you room to land after a meaningful close. BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION HERE:
A 10% discount for Strom Spa will be provided to you upon completion of registration.
Because this gathering is held for you specifically, your place is reserved in your name the moment you register. If life shifts and you can no longer come, I'll always do everything in my power to help you find a way forward — transferring your place to a future gathering whenever possible.
Two of the twelve places are already taken. Doors close August 16th — or when the twelfth woman says yes, whichever comes first.
Getting Here:
FLIGHTS: Nearest airport is in Quebec City, YQB
TRAINS: The VIA train station is 2 blocks away from Le Monastère, and a lovely way to travel.
CAR: approximately 2 hours from Montreal or 4 from Ottawa. Please note there is limited parking on site. Paid parking nearby.
IN HER WORDS
“The first time I came, I sat in the rocking chair looking out at the soft evening light and felt a comfort I didn't expect. There's something soothing about leaning into a question without the pressure of having to know the answer. I left realizing that cherishing myself isn't a destination — it's an ongoing practice.
Two years later, I came back. This time I took my place in that same rocking chair eagerly, and I noticed what had actually changed in those two years: not my circumstances, but how I held myself, and how I viewed my life.
I'll come again.”
— Maureen
Transition times are important times of grounding and self-acknowledgement.